Educate Together vs National Schools 2025- Junior Infants

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Nemama

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Hi all,

There is one post dated on 2009 in regards of the same comparative. However I am looking for an up-to-date (2025) in regards of what is the best school (if there is any difference).

Are both doing religion or not?

What're the nationalities on each of them? Just curious

What's the studies plan? Do they teach exactly the same? For example, what do they do the 1st year of Junior Infant (5yo).

Pros and Cons from one and the other?

Thanks
 
One has one religion, the other has all and none. Other than that there's not a big difference. Your kids will lose out on the communion and confirmation money and may go to hell (okay the last one is just makey-up).
 
Each DoE school teaches the same syllabus apart from religion. The Educate Together website has information about their syllabus for their alternative to religious instruction https://www.educatetogether.ie/schools/primary/

IMHO, The religious ethos of a school doesn't define if it is a "good" school or which school is best. Each school is different and good schools come in all shapes and sizes. ( and everyone's definition of a good school isn't the same)
 
Best school is a very subjective thing and really depends on your child and how they will thrive in their education. All children are taught a common curriculum.

Probably the biggest difference is no religion is taught and it does not inform the ethos of the school. Any pursuit of sacraments etc is done on personal time.

Educate Together schools tend to have less formal structures than the traditional national schools (eg no uniforms, teachers called by name as opposed to formal titles).

Most schools have open days and I think that is where you can really get a feel for the school and the management and staff. You might also be able to visit on a fair or fundraising day if they are open to the public.

I think factors like attending school in your locality or mixed v single sex preference or supports available for can maybe be more of a factor than the patron of the school so do try to look at it from all angles. Also when talking to parents of any school, make sure that you filter their likes and dislikes with your own family in mind.
 
Btw… they can still make communion and confirmation and bar mitzvah etc you’ll just have to sort it out yourself with the priest rabbi etc.

Religion is taught in ET schools per the department rules but doctrine is not taught.

They best school is the local one where your kids make friends, enjoy learning, achieve their potential in sports and academics learn to be good kind people and never have a bad day. And are surrounded by lovely supportive teachers and great like minded families.

So good luck working out in advance which one that it.
 
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I guess I meant spirituality and ethics rather than religion. I was one of the people involved in developing the original Learn Together programme many years ago.

We had a job to get the department to approve it many years ago and we included a chapter on all the religions we could, and we had 8 represented in the school at the time so we got lots of families involved too..

. There were only a handful of et schools back then and they were all primary schools.
 
The only other thing that I would recommend considering is the feeder secondary of your choice. Unfortunately we have only 1 mixed secondary in our area and it is prioritises Church of Ireland students followed by the usual criteria. I would have possibly considered a feeder primary school in hindsight.

I do not know if I think it made much difference to us personally mine went to the local school which is under the catholic patronage. What made a difference was the principal. I think things have evolved somewhat but the RE curriculum is available to view online. There may be no uniforms in some if that makes a difference to you but the pros and cons are subjective to your personal views.
 
Mommabearof3 said:
The only other thing that I would recommend considering is the feeder secondary of your choice.
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Feeder school is a more important consideration. My sister's went to a Educate Together and afaik received the sacraments... The fun was when going to secondary school and her local COI school wanting a letter signed from the Vicar, PP, Rabbi or holy man stating you are in good standing with your church :-)
 
Fortunately there are a few ET secondary schools around now.

But secondary may need to be a consideration for you. What’s available locally/easy commute etc.
 
Is religion really that much of a national school ethos these days? It seemed hit and miss depending on the teacher ever 30 years ago.

Is everyone going through the motions?

Can non catholics go to a catholic primary school?

I’m not sure if they could in my day but the Protestants didn’t. They were bussed to the nearest town.
 
It’s 30 minutes a day in my nephews school. He’s not RC so he’s allowed read or do his homework.

But he lives in the town in the catchment area so got a space in the school
 
D nephew was left at a loose end the few weeks close to communion, and I guess confirmation next year. Lots of trips to the church and hanging around. His teacher let him bring a ball and let him play outside by himself while they did rehearsals. He was delighted. His parents were a bit taken aback. He was outside playing for several afternoons one week. He persuaded them to say nothing as he was enjoying it. Next year he’ll have a mate to play with as another non RC is in the class now.
 
faketales said:
Is religion really that much of a national school ethos these days? It seemed hit and miss depending on the teacher ever 30 years ago.

Is everyone going through the motions?

Can non catholics go to a catholic primary school?

I’m not sure if they could in my day but the Protestants didn’t. They were bussed to the nearest town.
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My kids went to the local catholic primary and secondary schools (we're practising Catholics for clarity) and they were full of kids of all religions, cultures and from many different countries. It was never an issue that I am aware of and parents were made clear on the Open days that the schools has a Catholic ethos but all were welcome. The secondry school is actually the biggest and most popular in the town but they also tend to be (in my experience anyway) that little bit stricter.

Some schools take it very seriously, some go through the motions and a lot depends on the teachers.
 
For me the religious aspect was not necessarily the time spent on sacraments, it was all the statues, crucifixes, daily prayers, the way God is spoken about daily in class by teachers etc. So it is not just for a couple of weeks over two years, it is a daily thing, obviously school dependent.

We were lucky that we had choice where we live to attend a non religious school, a lot of places the choices are limited, especially if you want to stay in your locality.
 
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